وَقَهوَةٍ عُتِّقَت في دَيرِ شَمّاسِ
تَفتَرُّ في كَأسِها عَن ضَوءِ مِقباسِ
And many a wine aged in the Monastery of Shammas,
Gleaming in its cup with the light of a burning torch.
لَولا مُداراةُ حاسيها إِذا اِقتَرَبَت
مِن فيهِ لَاِنتَهَبَت مِن مُقلَةِ الحاسي
Were it not for the drinker's gentle coaxing as it neared
His mouth, it would have snatched the sight from his eye.
لَها أَليفانِ مِن لَونٍ وَرائِحَةٍ
مَثوى مَقَرِّهِما في العَينِ وَالراسِ
It possesses two intimate companions of color and scent,
Their dwelling place settled within the eye and the head.
مِزاجُها دَمعُ حاسيها فَأَيُّ فَتىً
لَم يَبكِ إِذ ذاقَها مِن حُرقَةِ الكاسِ
Its mixture is the drinker's tears; for what young man
Has not wept upon tasting it, from the burning sting of the cup?
سِلمٌ وَلَكِنَّها حَربٌ لِذائِقِها
يا حَبَّذا بَأسُها ما كانَ مِن باسِ
It is peace, yet it is a war against its taster;
Oh, how lovely is its might—whatever might that may be!
نازَعتُها فِتيَةً غُرّاً غَطارِفَةً
لَيسوا إِذا اِمتُحِنوا يَوماً بِأَنكاسِ
I shared it with noble youths, bright-faced and princely,
Who are not found to be base when put to the test.
لا يَبطَرونَ وَلا يَخزونَ نادِيَهُم
كَأَنَّهُم جُثَثٌ مِن غَيرِ أَنفاسِ
They show no arrogance, nor do they disgrace their gathering,
As though they were lifeless bodies, devoid of breath.
يُديرُها هاشِمِيُّ الطَرفِ مُعتَدِلٌ
أَبهى إِذا ما مَشى مِن طاقَةِ الآسِ
A well-proportioned cupbearer with a Hashimi glance serves it,
More radiant when he walks than a spray of myrtle.
حَثَّ المُدامَ وَغَنّانا عَلى طَرَبٍ
الآنَ طابَ الهَوى يا مَعشَرَ الناسِ
He urged the wine to flow and sang to us in rapture:
"Now passion has become sweet, O assembly of people!"
حَتّى إِذا ظَنَّ أَنّي غَيرُ مُحتَمِلٍ
أَشارَ نَحوي لِأَمرٍ بَينَ جُلّاسي
Until, when he deemed that I could no longer endure,
He signaled towards me regarding a matter among my guests.
فَقُلتُ أَضرِبُ في مَعروفِهِ مَثَلاً
لِعادَةٍ قَد مَضَت مِنّي إِلى الآسي
So I spoke, striking a parable regarding his favor,
Following a custom I have long held toward the healer:
مَن يَفعَلِ الخَيرَ لا يَعدَم جَوازِيَهُ
لا يَذهَبُ العُرفُ بَينَ اللَهِ وَالناسِ
"Whoever does good shall not be deprived of its reward;
Kindness is never lost between God and mankind."
